Tilt valve



United States Patent [72] Inventor 541 Tim VALVE- llll 3,545,720

Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek Attorney-Stefan M. Stein ABSTRACT:An aerosol valve having a valve body, a valve stem, a sealing gasket andvalve stem-biasing means. The valve stem has an enlarged diameter innerend which is reciprocally disposed in the valve stem cavity in the valvebody and its top wall is normally biased against the sealing gasket, bythe biasing means, to form a seal. The valve stem has a dispensing portin it and the sealing gasket has an annular groove which surrounds thedispensing port. The seal which nonnally prevents the product fromflowing into the annular groove, and hence the dispensing port, isbroken when the valve stem is depressed and/or tilted, therebypermitting the product to be dispersed.

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521 USA 251/303, 251/354; 2 2/4o2.z2 511 1111. 1 F16kl/16: B65d83/00 501FleldofSearch 251/303, 398, 354, 40, 149.8, 346, 347, 351, 353;222/40221, 402.24

[56] ReIereneesClted uurren STATES PATENTS 2,658,714 11/1953 Fooshee251/353 TILT VALVE This application is a continuation-in-part ofapplication U.S. Pat. Serial No. 646,586 filed June 16, 1967 and nowabandoned.

This invention relates to valves and, in particular, to aerosol valveshaving a dual action. By dual action is meant that the valves can beoperated by tilting and/or depressing their valve stems.

Currently, aerosol valves are of two general types: thevertical-reciprocating type and the tilt action type. Both are widelyused to dispense a variety of products from pressurized containers orcans.

Recently, more sophisticated aerosol valves have been demanded. Fillersdemand valves which are tailored to dispense particular products so thatthe most effective results can be obtained for said products. Thus,aerosol valves have been designed to meter out a specific quantity ofproduct, to mechanically break up the product into a fine spray, to foamthe product before it is dispensed and similar effects. In addition,fillers are now demanding valves of these types which also can beoperated both by tilting and by vertically reciprocating their valvestems.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved aerosol valvesof the dual action type.

Another object is to provide improved aerosol valves of the tilt actiontype.

Still another object is to provide improved aerosol valves of the abovecharacter having a combination swirl-expansion chamber effect.

A further object is to provide improved aerosol valves which can beeasily and inexpensively manufactured without the need of specialequipment and intricate molds.

The aerosol valve of the present invention includes, generally, a valvebody adapted to be affixed within a valve turret of a valve housing, avalve stem, a sealing gasket and valve stem-biasing meansfThe valve stemis of tubular construction and has an enlarged diameter closed inner endwhich is reciprocally disposed within the valve stem cavity in the valvebody. At least one dispensing port is formed extending into the tubularvalve stem, preferably immediately adjacent the top wall of its innerend. The sealing gasket has a recessed cavity in it which forms anannular groove disposed about the dispensing port. Normally, the valvestem-biasing means forcibly urge the top wall of the inner end of thevalve stem against the sealing gasket to form a seal with it to preventleakage and to control the flow of product into the annular groove.

When the valve stem is tilted, the top wall of the inner end of thevalve stem cams against the sealing gasket and thereby breaks the seal.This action permits the product to flow into the annular groove and,from the groove, into the valve stem, via the dispensing port. A similaraction occurs when the valve stem is depressed.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view, illustrating the construction of and themanner in which the aerosol valve is assembled;

FIG. 2 is a similar sectional view, illustrating the manner in which theaerosol valve is operated, by tilting its valve stem;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partial sectional view, illustrating the annulargroove formed about the dispensing port or ports in the valve stem, bythe recessed cavity in the sealing gasket;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the sealing gasket; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a sealing gasket formed of twoannular rings which are affixed together.

. Similar reference characters refer to similar. parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawing, an aerosol valve 10 is shown having avalve body 12, a valve stem 14, valve stem-biasing means 16, and asealing gasket 18. The aerosol valve 10 is adapted to be afiixed withina valve turret 20 of a valve housing 22 (only partly shown) of thewell-known type by, for example, crimping the sidewall 24 of the valveturret 20 about the valve body 12, as at 26. The valve housing 22 isaffixed to an aerosol container or can, in any suitable fashion. Theaerosol valve 10 is operated to dispense the product from the can, bytilting and/or depressing the valve stem 14.

More specifically, the valve body 12 of the aerosol valve 10 is ofgenerally tubular construction and has an enlarged diameter head portion28 and a reduced diameter tail portion 30 which forms a dip tubeattachment tail to which a dip tube (not shown) of the type generallyused can be afiixed, A valve stem cavity 32 if formed in the headportion 28, and below it is a cavity 34 for receiving and retaining thevalve stem-biasing means 16, which may be a spring as illustrated. Thebottom wall of the cavity 34 forms a support surface 36 for the valvestem-biasing means. The dip tube tail 30 has an orifice 38 in it throughwhich the product can flow to the valve stem cavity 32.

The valve stem 14 includes a tubular stem portion 40 which has anenlarged diameter closed inner end 42 integrally formed with it. Aspring retainer 43 of a diameter substantially corresponding to theinterior diameter of the spring 16 is advantageously formed on theunderside of the inner end 42, for positionally retaining the spring 16in proper alignment. The inner end 42 is movably retained within thevalve stem cavity 32, with its top wall 44 normally biased against thesealing gasket 18. One or more dispensing ports 46 are formed in thesidewall of the stem portion 40, immediately above the top wall 44 ofthe inner end 42, and extends into the interior chamber 41 of the valvestem.

The sealing gasket 18 comprises two annular-shaped resilient rings,preferably rubber, and the aperture 48 in the upper ring 54 is slightlysmaller in diameter than that of the stem portion 40 of the valve stem14. A tight seal is therefore provided about the stem portion 40 toprevent leakage.

A recessed cavity which is larger in diameter than the aperture 48 isconcentrically formed about the aperture 48 in the lower ring 56 of thesealing gasket 18 in a fashion such as to provide an annular groove 50,which can be best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, about the stem portion 40 ofthe valve stem 14, adjacent the dispensing ports 46.

The sealing gasket rings 54 and 56 can be cut from extruded tubes havingappropriate size interior cavity diameters. A very soft and resilientrubber may be used for the top gasket ring to insure a positive seal. Ifthe same type rubber were used for the lower gasket ring, and if thevalve is a tilt valve, the stem would have to be tilted to a largerangle before the seal between the stem base and lower gasket ring couldbe broken, because the stem flange normally bites into the lower gasketring. Also, with the lower gasket ring, a harder rubber, and the uppergasket ring, a soft rubber, the tilt angle may be better regulated,maintaining a good safe valve. Assembly is also eased if color codedgasket rings are used.

The two-gasket system also permits chemicalcompatibility. Use ofdifferent combinations of rubbers, such as: Neoprene, Buna, German BunaS., Nitrice, Butyl, Polysulphides, Polyurethane, Ethylene Propylene,Silicone, Fluorocarbon, Elastomers, etc. is possible. While many ofthese rubbers are expensive, their beneficial property is only necessarywhere contact with the product occurs. Since the lower gasket need notbe as thick as the upper gasket, such greatly reduces the cost, butstill insures a safe valve with a soft resilient seal gasket ring ontop.

The rings 54 and 56 can be adhesively affixed together or merely heldtogether by the valve body 12 when assembled within the valve turret 20.

Normally, the top wall 44 of the closed inner end 42 of the valve stemis biased against the lower face 52 of the sealing gasket 18 (FIG. 3) soas to form a seal to prevent flow or leakage of the product into thegroove 50. Accordingly, until the aerosol valve is actuated in themanner described below, none of the product can be dispensed.

To actuate the aerosol valve 10, the valve stem 14 is depressed ortilted to break the seal formed by the top wall 44 of the closed innerend 42 and the lower face 52 of the sealing gasket 18, to permit theproduct to flow from the valve stem cavity 32 into the groove 50. Oncein the groove 50, the product will swirl about the groove and partiallyexpand before it flows through the dispensing ports 46 into and out ofthe interior chamber 41 in the valve stem 14. In flowing from the groove50 into the interior chamber 41, the partially expanded product is, tosome degree, mechanically broken up as it is forced through thedispensing ports 46.v The groove 50 therefore forms both an expansionchamber and a swirl chamber and the dispensing ports 46 perform amechanical breakup function to provide greater product dispersion andhence a more effective spray.

It may be noted that this product dispersion is more pronounced when thevalve stem 14 is tilted since the product is caused to swirl more thanwhen the valve stem 14 is depressed. This is due to the fact that, ascan be best seen in FIG. 2, a portion of the-top wall 44 of the closedinner end 42 remains biased, and hence sealed, against the lower face 52of the sealing gasket 18. The product therefore only can enter thegroove 50 at the point where the seal is broken (which in theillustrated case would-be on the left side of the closed inner end 42),and, since its rate of flow is greater than that which can flow throughone or more of the dispensing ports 46 the product is forced into andcaused to swirl about the confined groove 50. If the groove 50 iscompletely open, which it normally is when the valve stem 14 isdepressed, many of these advantages are detracted from and the productis not as completely dispersed." If the product is of a type requiringsubstantial dispersion for most effective use, depressing of the valvestem 14 can be discouraged by failing to provide a valve button (notshown) on the end of the valve stem, or by providing a lock'ring (notshown) about the valve stem which prevents it from being depressed.

The provision of two overlaying sealing rings also has other advantages;for example:

A. Pressure Filling The double-gasket or sealing ring arrangementenables a container to be filled more rapidly under pressure. The gascan enter the container not only through the valve stem and dispensingports, but also between the gaskets at a high rate.

B. Product Compatibility The use of two separate sealing rings allowseach one to be made of a special material. The lower sealing ring withthe annular chamber is cut or molded out of an exotic rubber or plasticthat provides maximum chemical compatibility; yet provides a good sealto the base of the stem since this sealing ring will always be incontact with the product. The upper sealing ring is made of asoftresilient material for effectively sealing the stem sidewall seal. Itshould be appreciated that this sealing ring need not have the chemicalcompatibility as the lower sealing ring since it will only be in contactwith the product during the valve actuation.

C. Valve Operation Here again, by making the sealing rings of twodifi'erent materials or the same materials with different durometers,different types of valve operation can be provided. The upper sealingring is made of a soft and resilient material for effectively sealingthe stern seal during and after operation. By making the lowersealing'ring of a firm material, the valve actuation will have a veryfast trigger action. Conversely, by making the lower sealing ring of asoft material, the valve actuation will not trigger by a slight touchbut rather a substantial force will have to be applied, and also, thevalve actuation will be slower. 3'

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, andsince certain changes may be made in the above construction withoutdeparting from the scogle of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in e above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

lclairn:

1. An aerosol valve comprising, in combination: a valve stem including atubular stern portion having an enlarged diameter closed inner end, atleast one dispensing port formed in the sidewall of said stem portion incommunication with the interior of said tubular stem portion; sealingmeans having an aperture therein; said valve stem being assembled withsaid stem portion extending through said aperture in said sealing means;a recessed cavityin said sealing means concentrically disposed with saidaperture'therein and forming an annular groove about said dispensingport in the sidewall of said stem portion; said sealing means comprisinga pair of resilient-sealing rings, each of which has an aperturecentrally formed therein, the aperture in the lower one of said sealingrings being larger in diameter than the aperture in the upper one ofsaid sealing rings and forming said recessed cavity in said sealingmeans when said pairs of sealing rings are affixed together in overlyingrelationship; said valve stem normally being biased with said closedinner end in engagement with the lower sealing ring to form a seal toprevent flow of product into said annular groove and said dispensingport and being operable to break said sealto permit said product to flowinto said annular groove and said dispensing port.

2. The aerosol valve of claim 1 further including a tubular valve bodyhaving a valve stem cavity formed therein; said sealing rings beingfixedly disposed within and adjacent the top of said valve body and saidvalve stem being assembled with said closed inner end slidably receivedwithin said valve stem cavity and with said stem portion extendingthrough said apertures in said sealing rings; said recessed cavity insaid sealing ring being concentrically disposed with and forming anannular groove about said dispensing port in the sidewall of said stemportion; and said sealing rings being arranged to allow product to flowbetween them when a container to which the valve is attached is pressurefilled with the product.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 545 72O Dated December 8 1970 Inventofls) Ronald P. Ewald It is certifiedthat error appears in {the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, the lead line of reference numeral I 6 isconsidered changed to indicate the valve stem-biasing spring, asreferred to in column 2, lines 2 and 3; the lead line of referencenumeral 36 is considered changed to indicate the support surface for thevalve stem-biasing means, as referred to in column 2, line 1 9; areference numeral 3 is considered added to indicate the spring retainingprojection on the under side of the closed inner end of valve stem I 2,as referred to in column 2, line 26; reference numeral 1 1;. and itslead line are considered removed In Fig. 2, reference numeral 11.14. isconsidered added to indicate the top wall of the inner end 2 of thevalve stem, as referred to in column 2, line In Fig. 3, a referencenumeral l d is considered added to indicate the aperture in the upperrin' 51;. (Fig. 5) as referred to in column 2, line 36%; a referencenumeral 52 is considered added to indicate the lower face of the sealinggasket 18, as referred to in column 2, lines 73 and 71+.

Signed and sealed this 10th day of August 1971.

: (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Peter

